Nama'Rel

There is a place no one can call their own. It resides between five countries, embraced by two rivers and their mother lake. In Shakhemek they call this land isipho sobomi, gift of life. In Bondye it is known as vant nan mond lan, womb of the world. Odeler has no name for it, but in their legends it is said that this is where the goddess goes to bleed her womb's blood. Adderesh, who once tried to claim it for their own and paid a heavy price, have since burnt all the bridges that cross the river and lead there. They never have windows facing north, and when the wind comes from there, they take shelter and hide. Endir, who shares a deep enmity with Bondye, shares this one place of worship, the gift of life. The saeli-tuk, who have a name for everything in their records, have chosen to simply call it Nama'Rel, even though it was never a part of their legends or faith.

Everything grows in Nama'Rel. When hunger threatens, there are always sweet fruits on the trees, crops of corn and rice and wheat, vegetables and mushrooms, to fill a belly. Whatever one can cut and carry with their hands, they can have. But whatever power blesses the earth of Nama'Rel, it does not look kindly upon either greed nor iron. Those who have tried to carry carts or even sacks filled with goods, have found that they were impossible to move. And everyone knows the fate of the Adderesh soldiers who brought swords and axes in that blessed ground. Even if the stories were not to be believed, however, the trees whose barks have faces and whose branches have fingers speak for themselves. Mostly they moan, having forgotten who they were long ago, or why such fate was bestowed upon them. Only one remembers, the general who led the attempt, and his bitter tears water the lilies around his bark.
And so it is that this piece of land, blessed by a power unknown, is said to have been the first garden, the birthing place of Eam'Rel herself, the place where everything that grows on land came from. The one place where everything still grows.